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Updated 11.08
EUROPEAN SCIENTISTS WERE on tenterhooks this morning as they prepared for a historic rendezvous between a comet and a space probe after a 10-year, six billion-kilometre chase through the Solar System.
The scout Rosetta finally arrived at Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in deep space at around 10am GMT, and has become the first envoy of Man to orbit one of these wanderers of the Solar System, they said.
If all goes well, the mission in November will carry out the first landing on a comet. Rosetta will send a robot chemistry lab to the surface to delve into a theory that comets hold the key to understanding how our star system formed.
Orbital entry was triggered at around 10am by a small firing of Rosetta’s thrusters, lasting just six minutes and 26 seconds.
“This burn will tip Rosetta into the first leg of a series of three-legged triangular paths about the comet,” the ESA said.
For today, Rosetta will travel alongside the comet but will later start its orbits.
The “pyramidal” orbits will put the craft at a height of about 100 kilometres above the comet, said Sylvain Lodiot, Rosetta’s flight operations manager. Each leg of the triangle will be around 100 kilometres and take Rosetta between three and four days to complete.
This arrival marks a key moment of the boldest project ever undertaken by ESA – a 1.3-billion-euro investigation into one of enigmas of the Solar System.
Comets are believed by astrophysicists to be ancient ice and dust left from the building of the Solar System around 4.6 billion years ago. This cosmic rubble is the oldest, least touched material in our stellar neighbourhood.
Understanding its chemical ID and physical composition will give insights into how the planets coalesced after the Sun flared into light, it is hoped.
It could also determine the fate of a theory called “pan-spermia,” which suggests comets, by smashing into the infant Earth, sowed our home with water and precious organic molecules, providing us with a kickstart for life.
Navigational feat
Getting there has been an unprecedented navigational exploit.
Launched in March 2004, the three-tonne craft has had to make four flybys of Mars and Earth, using their gravitational force as a slingshot to build up speed.
It then entered a 31-month hibernation as light from the distant Sun became too weak for its solar panels. That period ended in January with a wake-up call sent from Earth.
The spacecraft is named after the famous stone, now in the British Museum, that explained Egyptian hieroglyphics, while its payload Philae is named after an obelisk that in turn helped decipher the Rosetta stone.
The four-kilometre comet is named after two Ukrainian astronomers who first spotted it in 1969.
- © AFP 2014 with additional reporting by Michelle Hennessy.
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That’s mad.
it is, Ted – I mean Trevor.
Haha. Amazing all the same though.
Don’t drag me into this!
Not everything is about you Ted Carroll!
Look at this for flirting :):)
It’s a magnificent achievement. I am in awe of the scientific know how that makes this possible.
We’ll shortly have some idiots along to explain how we could have 4 more hospitals, 6 schools and 1,000 nurses etc.
Malcolm Lackey is one of those idiots!
…. I love the way they have mocked up a computer image of the satellite and the comet …it reminds me of Toy Story ..animation is so advanced nowadays !
Very exciting
Truly amazing stuff.
Still no one has said what the point is or what we will learn from this? If you are all so intelligent and i am such an idiot please explain to me what the point is and how this will better humanity. All you are good at is calling people names, doesn’t take much intelligence to put someone down. So again what is the point?
If you can’t see the point m8, there ain’t no point in typing at you…
No, please do explain the point of this experiment. What will we learn to better humanity?
Malcolm plenty of people have already answered you, maybe you should read all those replies first before repeating your silly question yet again.
If you had read the comments posted, by now you should have got the message. Its obvious that you are just a moron so go back to your comic and let the grown ups chat here
Malcolm if all humans thought like this we would still be in caves. It is part of and essential to the human psyche to find answers to these questions.
” we are made of star stuff, we the universes way of knowing itself”
Carl Sagan
This will prove if organics came from space, therefore dismissing all religious theories that we were created, therefore eventually killing all religion on the planet, therefore stopping most wars, therefore helping humanity.
sean it’s old news that organics came from outer space – dna is virtually indestructible in spce – everyone knows that !
Dermot, the theory that organics came from outer space is old news. Actually having the solid evidence to prove it from a comet itself is a different thing entirely.
Jason in the absence of any other travelling bodies … it must be comets …I am not disagreeing with the study though – it’s a thorough approach !
And who knows what we find – it may have an element that cures cancer – as an outlandish example !
Check out Edgar Cayce and cosmology -it gives a whole new perspective on multi-universe theories and the purpose of the planets – not saying it’s conclusive or even correct but it will expand your knowledge – in particular with relation to multi dimensions ! ..Youtube
Malcolm,
We will learn more about the materials present in the early solar system. This is key to our understanding of how our solar system formed and how similar solar systems could form. If evidence of microbes is found then it may explain how we got here. They are testing and confirming what we think goes on here. Without experimental data to back it up then we just don’t know for sure. If we find something unexpected then it might give us more or even better insights. If you don’t see the value in this then I cannot help you.
Who know’s what will come of it.
Did Einstein go out looking for a method of geo-positioning when he proposed special relativity? No
Did astrophysicists seek to do the same when finding discrepancies in the orbit of Mercury with classical Newtonian physics ? No
What came out of this discovery and real world confirmation? GPS technology.
All life is, is the universe experiencing itself.
If all that life does is get spoon fed sports and entertainment by the mass media then it’s a pretty sad existence. If all that life did is passively accept the world as it is and not investigate why things are the way then are then we would be still living in the middle ages.
People like you make me sick. You don’t even deserve to benefit with that attitude. Respect what science has given us. How exactly do you think we better ourselves ?
The pursuit of human knowledge is a noble cause in and of itself. It doesn’t have to cure Malcolm Lackey’s genital warts to be worth while.
But if you are so small minded that you need a simple practical applications you can understand before you find the spend acceptable, there are two things to consider.
1) If Malcolm Lackey’s home planet ever finds itself on a collision course with a comet, we will need accurate information about the composition of comets to give us a fighting chance of doing anything about it.
2) The vast majority of scientific discoveries that have led to practical inventions that make Malcolm Lackey’s life easier have been spinoffs discovered or improved while pursuing pure science tasks such as this. Microwave ovens, mobile phones, non-stick frying pans, integrated curcuits and electricity are all spin-off discoveries/inventions that occured on the way to pure science endeavours.
Jack you contend that we can fight comets – fair enough I suppose !
Microwave ovens eradiate one’s home and prevent the knowledge of cooking to be fully expanded …
Jack – how do you know that Malcolm has genital warts – it is not intelligent to insult !..in my book at any rate
“Microwave ovens eradiate one’s home”
Microwave ovens do not emit any kind of harmful radiation. they’re no more harmful than your wifi. Please get an education.
I don’t dance to your tune or accede to requests that waste my time already getting that which I already have Jack …
But thank you for using manners – I like manners !
oh Jack there are creams and stuff for genital warts you know …and they didn’t need space travel to be invented !
You could of course place your nutsack in a freezer and freeze them off if you wish !
Beware the burn though !
Go on smile – you know you can !
You still here Dermot?
We’re putting a robot on a comet that’s on it’s way from one side of the solar system to another. If tja
…It that in itself is not enough, then you are not alive.
Jack
Nope physical impossibility – for I am HERE ! …It is you that is there – your “here” in that sentence !
“The true path to discovery lies in the question therefore no all knowledge is worthless from those who know not how to question” …Ching Zo Chinese Philosopher !
…Neal – tell that to the robot …”You are not alive !” ….love it !
You might love it Dermot, but it doesn’t love you. Nobody loves you.
How can a tin can love me ?…. You have to start thinking before you write Jack …have a good one – remember it’s not that serious !
How can anything or anyone love you?
Is this an episode of extreme Myth Busters proving the film Armageddon was right. Discovery have some budget these days. But honestly what is the point?
What is the point?
What was the point in studying radiation…or electricity, or light, or laws of motion and gravity, or anything really…sure what’s the point…
Thankfully we have great people pursuing science and pushing humanity forward.
Lackey….you’re a freakin idiot.
I wouldn’t expect a dumb @arse to understand the point of furthering human knowledge.
I’m an idiot, honestly what will this prove, will it cure Cancer? Will it cure aids? Will it help humanity in any way? No. So it’s a waste of money and pointless!
What’s the point? Malcolm, if you don’t see this as important research, then just go back to church and keep listening to them….
Yas call me the idiot, but not one of you Sheldons can tell me what the point is or how this will better humanity? Good luck Sheldon wana bees. I’ll stay an idiot so.
No Malcolm, nobody will tell you what you want to hear. Plenty of people have explained that it furthers our knowledge of the universe which can, in turn, lead to technical advances in other areas which will benefit us.
You just want to hear it will save all the orphans tomorrow and, if it doesn’t, to you it’s a waste.
Lackey, you are – perhaps – the dumbest idiot ever to type on the journal. And that’s saying something!
Your inane questions have been answered several times. Still, you repeat them.
Go back to bed.
Hmm, what’s the point in tracking comets? Hmm, what killed the dinosaurs?
LTE’S ALL LIVE IN SPACE AND LEAVE THE PLANET BEHIND …COS IT’S REALLY COOL OUT THERE !
a PERSON WHO ASKS A QUESTION IS NOT AN IDIOT – THE IDIOT IS THE PERSON THAT ATTACKS THE FORMER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO ANSWER AND DON’T WANT TO SHOW THAT THEY ARE TOO STUPID TO HAVE THOUGHT IT !
Jason for example is not an idiot ..he answered , will is an idiot though as proven by his answer above –
Mlacolm being inquisitive is also highly intelligent by not jumping on the bandwagon !
I’ve found that comments written in full caps are great indicators of a lack of intelligence.
What’s the point? Well, why not? If someone wants to land a probe on a comet millions of kilometers away, let them. In context does everything have to benefit man kind? Even though this does. Sports stars get paid more than doctors. That doesn’t benefit man kind. War doesn’t benefit man kind. You see where I’m going with this?
Repeated questions on multiple stories and referring people who actually answer you to TV show characters = TROLL!!
TRO LO LO LO LO LO LO LO LO LO LO LLLLLL!!!!!!!!! :-*
One red thumb Jason.. I wonder who that’s from?
I see your quest for knowledge is a long way from being over so Jack – I wish you well on your journey !
Sean – how could science have a Troll ? I hope you aren’t a scientist !
I love the three dimensional thinking of the science community -
For example the comment above about leaving planet earth and living in space was designed to show you that you don’t understand that we live in space as the planet and ourselves are a constituent of the universe …or space and earth as some people subdivide it …It cracks me up no end !
That’s the best you could come up with as a reply? Meh, You bore me.
Sean – who are you talking to – who’s Meh ?..
I dislike strongly when they take down comments – it ruins the narrative !
Haha
Important research? What will we learn from this that we don’t already know? You are all watching to much of The Big Bang Theory.
If people didn’t do scientific research then we would still be in the dark ages. If people like Michael Faraday did not investigate Magnetism we would not have developed electricity. An understanding of quantum theory was vital for the construction of the first transistors which in turn make it possible for you to write shíte on here today!
“What will we learn from this that we don’t already know?”
The exact chemical composition of a comet and the changes to this composition as it nears the sun for one. Unless you know the answers to this already.
The legendary astrophysicist Fred Hoyle and chandry wickramsing can’t spell it) Hoyle’s colleague propounded the theory that life “as we know it” came from space and was carried to earth by comets and asteroids crashing into the earth the theory is “panspermia”. Google it ,regards j
“Important research?”
The origin of life it’s self, why we are here, where we came from, how life arose from inanimate matter, did comets bring the building blocks of life to Earth, why is DNA and RNA made of a fixed set of chemicals and why just those chemicals, did these chemicals come from space, from comets, how were these chemicals formed in interstellar space? That’s just a few of the questions we can answer with Rosetta.
It is thought that many organic compounds that arrived on the early earth around 4 billion years ago were delivered by comets and asteroids. They are the oldest material of the solar system, they are star dust, the material that went on to make moons, planets and life. Comets are rich in carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen (so are we). Maybe they seeded the early Earth with just the right ingredients so life to arose from an organic soup of star dust. But we are not sure, we want to know more.
But comets are very fragile. They evaporate and disintegrate, they do not survive as meteorites. So apart from a few microscopic particles, some brief flybys of comets from a distance, one half successful sample return mission, we have never examined a comet up close like this before. This will answer our questions.
References:
Matthews, C.N. & Minard, R.D. 2006. Hydrogen cyanide polymers, comets and the origin of life. Faraday Discussions, 133, 393–401, doi: 10.1039/B516791D.
Muñoz Caro, G.M., Meierhenrich, U.J., et al. 2002. Amino acids from ultraviolet irradiation of interstellar ice analogues. Nature, 416, 403–406, doi: 10.1038/416403a.
if you look at the moon and it’s crater ridden surface and then you look at the planet earth then you see that both have been obliterated with comets – the greenery of planet earth hides it and our up until the advent of satellites our perspective on our world !
This suggests that all life came from comets than again what are we but stardust ?
Those craters are mostly caused by small meteorites and asteroids, not comets.
What I’d like to know … is who took the photo of the spacecraft all the way out there in the dark..?
Makes you wonder…. Maybe we’re not alone.
When you think of how much this money could have been used for medical research and emergency aid instead of this waste of time mission with no benefit to the human race.
All space exploration is a waste of valuable money and resources that could be better spent.
I am putting this comment forward for the most stupid comment of the day.
@bergin – you should try harder; yes your comment is stupid but not in the troll category.
India hails rocket ‘cheaper than Hollywood film Gravity’
http://phys.org/news/2014-06-india-hails-rocket-cheaper-hollywood.html
Hmm, please research how much NASA has contributed to medical research before making such an uninformed statement please.
Also the time will come when we will need to push a comet or meteor out of our path. Yeah, wasted..
If you go to http://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html, the very first topic they address is medical devices. This site is just the tip of the iceberg.
Science is – How ?
Philosophy is – Why?
Prophecy is – When?
Religion is indoctrination from all 3 !
Let me fix that for you:
Science is – Knowledge
Philosophy is – Pedantry
Prophecy is – Bullshit
Jack – you really are dim aren’t you !
George Francis Fitzgerald (1851-1901) was born in Dublin and became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at TCD. He is best remembered for his proposal that a moving body contracts in the direction of its motion, but that this contraction cannot be measured because moving rulers shrink in the same proportion. This was a significant step towards Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity.
Look theoretical PHILOSOPHY !
It’s simple Jack – philosophy drives the quest mathematics theorises it and experimentation qualifies it ….
have your say